Job situation (stress, new career, promotion, sacked, etc)

[RGC]

What's going on with your job of late?

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What are your experiences with Work Related Stress (WRS)? Do you or have you suffered from this, and if so how did it manifest itself (mentally and/or physically)? Did you suffer depression, denial, extreme bouts of anger, etc?

Also, do you think it's acceptable for a company to go on allowing its employees to suffer from WRS, i.e. is it down to the employee to sort him/herself out, or should there be shared responsibility?

The small company I work for is undergoing rapid growth, which is great, but I don't think we're coping too well in keeping up with all the recruitment, training, and simultaneously trying to do our own jobs (and meet ridiculous deadlines). One day it could be a colleague storming out in a rage, the next day it could be me -- I tend to leave the office for a while, and try to walk it off. I feel sorry for the new starters and what they're exposed to within days of joining the firm. The point is, many of us seem to be suffering, and I wonder if it's normal for any company going through transition from start-up to fully fledged, "successful" business.

[xbl0x180]

Here in the U.S., this would have to go through Workman's Compensation. However, the process to file one of these is stress-inducing in itself. I'd rather use my own insurance and pay for some of it myself rather than deal with endless forms and telephone calls - and giving some workman's comp geek access to my medical records

[kernow]

employers don't give a fuck, do the work and shut up else they'll find someone else to do it.

[Skykid]

Basically what Kern said.

My own experiences of working in an office based workplace is you either get busy living or get busy dying. As soon as I knew it wasn't a lifetime profession for me, I dared to strangle my employers with their own red tape and life became a lot more relaxed.

Managers were always burdened with a multitude of roles meant to be handled by employees in other departments, and one day I just refused to do anything outside of my contractual job description, to the horror of my colleagues and superiors, but stood firm for another four years and they could never touch me for it. I left when I was ready to go.

If you're looking to make a career of your job, this isn't the method for you, and unfortunately you're forced to bend to their whims and shoulder the stress. Nothing you can do about it except complain to HR (who do nothing long term) or quit.

[CHI]

What are your experiences with WRS?

Alopecia Areata
This has happened twice in my life... first time in the mid 90s, got some ointments from the doctors, recovered in a few months... second time round wasn't as speedy, ointments wasn't working, told my chef about it, he took one look and said 'yeh, the aliens are back!' It took 14 months to grow back...




Another time in another restaurant in another country... within 3 months i've lost (not recorded), from a 35waist to a 32waist, i could not eat, anything that went into my mouth, came back out in minutes, i was on liquid only (a story that i won't get into, '07-'08), lasted for about 6 months and took another 6 months to recover...

employers don't give a fuck, do the work and shut up else they'll find someone else to do it.

This is soo true

From my experience... mentality is very important to daily life issues!

[Khan]

I have a friend who suffered from this recently, in the end he threw a sick note in with wrs and quit after 2 months of it. Unfortunatly most companies do very little to solve the problems or help. The reason why he quit was because he knew once he was back there he was back to square one with trying to meet impossible targets and trying to run a department with staff shortages.

[jonny5]

Just leave the work stress at work. Took me a long time to learn that, but I'm finally in a headspace where no matter how stressed I get at work with customers screaming at me and vendors/managers fucking me about, when I walk out the door, I forget it.

It's the only way I can function. I used to go home in a rage almost daily, and finally realized, they don't pay me enough to get angry like that, especially when I am not at work. Take it in stride, and make sure you have something to take your mind off it when not at work.

Work sucks, but unless you are somehow independently wealthy, it's a necessary evil if you want to survive.

[rapoon]

To prevent from freaking out and taking a hatchet to my co-workers heads, I took massive doses of valium. pretty effective too.
and hr is fucking worthless. behind the "we care" facade are elitist cunts who don't give two shits about you or resolving your grievances.

[dunpeal2064]

employers don't give a fuck, do the work and shut up else they'll find someone else to do it.

Its shitty, but this is true. Whenever I start to get sick of my job, I think about not having a paycheck. If work is shitty that day, just look forward to what you are going to do when you get home, and robot your way through the day.

[CIT]

Wow, depressing thread...

Seems like shmups forum is made up of subservient little worker drones whose creativity and joy of life has been completely sucked away.

[Skykid]

Wow, depressing thread...

Seems like shmups forum is made up of subservient little worker drones whose creativity and joy of life has been completely sucked away.

It's not shmups forum, it's the world. For further info, see the wealth disparity thread.

[Jeneki]

Work related stress? I browse the shmups forum. And it looks like I'm not the only one.

[dunpeal2064]

Wow, depressing thread...

Seems like shmups forum is made up of subservient little worker drones whose creativity and joy of life has been completely sucked away.

I am sadly a worker drone, but I love my life outside of work, and the work is worth the money to be able to enjoy myself outside of work.

However, I am still seeking employment that would be more beneficial to my overall mood. I just want to stay employed while I do so.

[rapoon]

Wow, depressing thread...

Seems like shmups forum is made up of subservient little worker drones whose creativity and joy of life has been completely sucked away.

^ from someone in Germany...... No offense brother, just making generalizations.

I've had wonderful jobs in the past with bad ass co-workers and supervisors who really did give a shit about their employees.
Unfortunately, that ship sank with the financial crisis. I am a drone and quickly approaching an age where making a drastic career
change would be extremely difficult. I'm currently searching for new opportunities. But I've lost all faith (regardless of the company)
in HR.

[Skykid]

Wow, depressing thread...

Seems like shmups forum is made up of subservient little worker drones whose creativity and joy of life has been completely sucked away.

^ from someone in Germany. No offense brother, just making generalizations.

Wat?!

I am sadly a worker drone, but I love my life outside of work, and the work is worth the money to be able to enjoy myself outside of work.

However, I am still seeking employment that would be more beneficial to my overall mood. I just want to stay employed while I do so.

Chin up man, it's a nasty vicious cycle, but without a majority of worker drones how would all the rich elite be able to afford that second private jet, or that island in the bahamas? Maybe we shouldn't all be so selfish and think about that for a second.

[rapoon]

Wow, depressing thread...

Seems like shmups forum is made up of subservient little worker drones whose creativity and joy of life has been completely sucked away.

^ from someone in Germany. No offense brother, just making generalizations.

Wat?!

I was joking...

[Casper<3]

I work in the food industry and just about every restaurant I've worked in I've seen stress from all sides get the best of people. I always tell people "don't take it personal". When you're upset, every little thing seems like the world is against you. ...lol I've even been yelled at my boss for not stressing out about stuff lol. "You act like everything's okay!!!" (and to myself I'm thinking yea, what am I suppose to do? flip out everytime something isn't exactlt perfect?)

[Blackbird]

I've even been yelled at my boss for not stressing out about stuff lol. "You act like everything's okay!!!" (and to myself I'm thinking yea, what am I suppose to do? flip out everytime something isn't exactlt perfect?)

Haha, yeah, I get that one all the time. Unless things are -really- bad, I'm usually cool as a cucumber.

[DragonInstall]

It's stressful when people who work for me mess up or act irresponsible. It's always like this... boss cares about his business thriving while the worker only cares about his paycheck.

Stress for everyone

[Smraedis]

I've had a lot of it myself, and rather a lot of depression from it too, it can be rather hard to talk about.
I know I get frustrated that I haven't got any further with job progression, and I'm worse off than I was 5 years ago (but I've learned a lot in life and have enjoyed the years too)
It's annoying for me to know that I have the skills to do a much better job, and I'd like one that actually makes use of my skills.
And they say that I bring it onto myself...

[DEL]

Skykid wrote;

It's not shmups forum, it's the world. For further info, see the wealth disparity thread.

Well of course I experienced work related stress in the American company I last worked for. Myself and a fellow worker drone developed an eyelid flicker for a couple of weeks. At first I didn't know what it was until another worker drone told me it was stress. That cured me immediately. I just said "fuck it" and stopped caring. Immediate cure

Other drones weren't so wise. One 30yr old drone went quite white down the sides in just one year. Another under-manager is savagely white on the sides and he's a hopeless brainwashed case. The full blue rinse.

The company truly views all worker drones as truly replaceable. As a result, there are virtually no drones lasting over 3 years, despite its 10 year history in Europe and 20 years in the US. Where incidentally my sales drone equivalents do not get a wage, just commission only

They employ 3 in house HRs and 2 in house lawyers - to handle the huge amount of hiring and firing.
I was lucky that I was working under Belgian Law when my time came and they had to pay me 8 months redundancy

I have been self employed for 3.5 years in the past, and of course it is a far better thing to do, rather than to work for someone else and make them rich.

If you do have to work for someone else, then I've always believed that your job is only as good as your manager. If you have a bad manager then your work life will be hell and you won't experience advancement either. If you are lucky enough to have a good manager, then you're onto a good thing......or at least tolerable.

[xbl0x180]

Wow, I didn't know youse were all so stressed the hell out. Work is really the least of my worries, nor is the ability to find a place to crash/sleep at or bills or most expenses. Then again, I don't make s***, so I don't spend a lot, except for videos, music, books, and a few video games. I probably will still die young just from living a sedentary lifestyle, but, again, work isn't even factored in as a source of stress. Now that I think about it, I kinda enjoy working the people in my group and I've probably avoided getting into deep s*** because they've helped me out. If I didn't have to work with them, I might choose a few as actual friends

I do have some school-related stress because the deadlines are a little tighter when it comes to projects, presentations, research papers, and exams. It also adds a little more stress that some people expect me to get a Master's degree outta this when I have explicitly told them I am "just hanging out with the Master's students for the semester."

[RGC]

Looks like I'm not alone in this! CHI, it's disheartening that you were prescribed ointment for the symptoms of your WRS, but (I'm assuming) its cause was not addressed?

I've had a lot of it myself, and rather a lot of depression from it too, it can be rather hard to talk about.,
...
And they say that I bring it onto myself...

I can sympathise here, based on previous employment. However, the key difference between my situation now and back then is that, work-wise, I'm currently exactly where I want to be. On the whole I really like my job; I'm fortunate in that the hours, days, weeks, and months seem to fly by, with lots of exciting challenges along the way. Where the stress kicks in, normally if basic concern goes unchecked for long enough to escalate into being a problem, is about things 100% beyond my control. That's what makes it completely irrational, and causes others to see it as self-induced. That said, people don't often comment on my apparent stress because I hide it well...much better than some of my co-worker-drones. I think the key is to take a leaf from jonny5, and practice saying 'fuck it' as you leave the office. From tomorrow, I'm going to start doing this.

[Specineff]

Much wisdom in this thread.

My two cents:

No job is ever worth your health. EVER.

Detachment works, in a spiritual kind of way. No matter how much a customer bitches, complains and tries to guilt-trip, it's not my problem if I didn't cause it. That doesn't mean I don't care about their issue because fixing it is my job, but I'm NOT going to lose sleep for someone having to spend 24 hours without cable.

There's only one person I'm responsible for: Myself.

Reduced hours work wonders if you can handle the reduced income.

[system11]

No job is ever worth your health. EVER.

Try saying that when the rent is due.

Employers who care about their employees are few and far between - the normal situation is that you will be worked to the bone, you are a slave to the man and absolutely at their mercy. When you burn out from increasing expectations and leave (or they get rid of you), they will replace you with someone who costs less and can't do the work, or costs more for the same work (despite the fact that they never gave you pay rises).

Find one that isn't as bad as the rest, and sell your soul to them.

Welcome to life.

[DEL]

System 11 wrote;

When you burn out from increasing expectations and leave (or they get rid of you), they will replace you with someone who costs less and can't do the work, or costs more for the same work (despite the fact that they never gave you pay rises).

Yup, that's exactly the case with the American company I've been talking about. They think they're so clever with their "You're all totally replaceable" attitude. But in reality they keep losing trained resources when the get rid of people or simply let them go without offering more to stay.
They gamble on a few things:-
* That the replacement will be able to handle the work
* That the replacement won't run out screaming when the stress kick in
* That the replacement can actually out-perform the person they let go
* Plus the fact that it will take many months for the replacement to get up to speed (if ever...).

Care if they actually do care about you, or say 'fuck it' every day if you know they don't.

[RGC]

Letter of resignation submitted. I'm a free and, at least for now, relaxed man! Damn that felt good.

[Skykid]

Letter of resignation submitted. I'm a free and, at least for now, relaxed man! Damn that felt good.

Been there: I know how you feel. You did the right thing, no second guessing yourself. Congrats!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4VSdGzxSTw

[RGC]

Cheers! I must admit I've done bugger all work today. Too busy buzzing, and appreciating the drama of it all. Hopefully, it'll have quite an impact, especially this close to xmas, since there will be minimal time for handover (also,I still have unclaimed holiday to cash-in on). The new job is fewer hours and more pay. You bet I'll be flashdancing back to the car after work! And from thence to the pub!

[BIL]

Sounds like a CASHBACK situation all-around.